National News Briefs; Reader's Digest Recalls Issue With Oil Recipes

Published: November 18, 1997

Reader's Digest Association Inc. said yesterday that it would recall 600,000 copies of a special holiday guide because recipes for flavored oils do not warn that a failure to refrigerate the oils could cause botulism.

While no illnesses have been reported, the company said it would immediately pull 450,000 copies of Reader's Digest Christmas from newsstands nationwide.

Customers can return the 150,000 copies that have been bought since the issue went on sale on Oct. 15.

Recipes for herb, Thai, spiced orange and Indian spiced oils did not indicate that the mixtures should be refrigerated.

The Food and Drug Administration advises people to refrigerate homemade mixtures of garlic or herbs in oil to avoid the risk of botulism, Reader's Digest said.